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A Meta-analysis of Eco-driving Feedback Research

In previous National Center for Sustainable Treansportation-sponsored review of eco-driving research from a behavioral perspective, the project identified and addressed two major barriers to a policy-relevant understanding of eco-driving: (1) imprecision and inconsistency in definitions of eco-driving behaviors; and (2) extreme and unsystematic variation in eco-driving feedback interventions in the empirical research demonstrating fuel savings and emissions reductions. Part of the previous research was a meta-review (i.e., non-statistical synthesis) of eco-driving feedback intervention studies, in which the project estimated an average fuel savings of 9%. Due to the aforementioned barriers, the project could not discern the relative effectiveness of different types of feedback for particular eco-driving behaviors. The project current proposal is to conduct a statistical meta-analysis to identify the key mediating and moderating variables in eco-driving feedback studies that explain the wide range of effects (from negative fuel savings to over 20%). For example, the few studies that have compared multiple types of feedback suggest it is more effective when it aligns with drivers’ values and goals (e.g., saving money versus reducing emissions) and when it is adaptive (consisting of graduated challenges), but these are each solitary findings. The project meta-analysis will identify similar variables emergent from the entire population of eco-driving feedback studies.